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It’s a golden opening, and she won’t waste it. Feeling more confident in her movements now that her wrist is bandaged, she tucks her legs beneath her. ‘Well, if you like, I could teach you.’
‘You’d do that?’
‘What else am I going to do down here?’
Elijah grunts. ‘Not much, I suppose.’
He sounds hurt, and she can’t work out why. It bothers her, the not-knowing.
‘You could try to escape,’ he points out.
Elissa licks her lips. There’s no safe answer to that, so she ignores it entirely.
‘How long would it take? To teach me chess?’
‘If you mean the basics, no more than an hour or so. If you’re talking about playing well – then probably an entire lifetime.’
‘I have a pretty high IQ.’
‘That’s great. That’ll definitely help. What is it?’
He’s quiet for a moment. ‘What’s what?’
‘Your IQ.’
Another pause. ‘It’s how clever you are.’
Elissa blinks. ‘Sure, but what’s your score?’
‘Score?’
‘IQ tests,’ she says, ‘give a score. The higher your score, the better your ability. What was your result?’
‘Um … ninety-nine.’
She raises her eyebrows. ‘Right, well. You’ll have no problem with chess, then.’
Elijah exhales in a rush. ‘When could we start?’
‘No time like the present.’
‘You mean … likenow?’
‘Why not?’
‘I wasn’t … well, I hadn’t … well, OK.’
‘Are you sure?’
He’s still for a moment. Then: ‘Yeah. I’m positive. One hundred per cent.’
‘You’d better pass me the pieces.’
The bag curves out of the dark and thumps down in front of her. Elissa cringes at the ill treatment of her Stauntons. Releasing the bag’s drawstring, she delves inside. ‘This,’ she announces, drawing out a fragrant rosewood chess piece, ‘is the king.’
Elijah sucks in a breath. ‘I want to be him.’
‘We’ll both get a king.’